Collapsible stool or the like



061; 31, 1944. SACHS 2,361,875

COLLAPSIBLE STObL OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1944- F. P, SACHS COLLAPSIBLE STOOL OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 24, 1941 4 i A 6 2 1 1 &\ fim m E K m 9 1 w a V Ii 1 l. w J w lliiiiz/ll liuill M 5 H 5 )5 T .I 1 l I lli liilmuti 5 2. 9 IJ mw /6 Patented Oct. 31 1944 UNITED STA Es PATENT, OFFICE f This invention relates to thecon stru ction-of stools, seats, stands, tables and similar articles from paper or fiber board and the like and,

more particularly, relates to an article ofythe character mentioned so designed and arranged that it may be shipped, stored or transported in a flat blank condition or in a folded but collapsed state and easily transformed into its final folded and expanded or set-up form. r

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a stool, seat, stand, table and the like which, while of simple and light economical construction, is sturdy and strong and capable of sustaining heavy loads."

Another important object is to provide an article of the character described so constructed that its formation from final form as well as from the folded and collapsed state into the final set-up form may be quickly and easily accomplished even by the rela tively unskilled.

A further object is to provide a construction wherein advantage is taken of the compression and tensile strengths of the material of which the article is made, at the same time avoiding con-' struction whereinany material load will place any substantial unsupported or unreinforced area under bending or torsional stresses.

Many other objects as well as the several ad-- vantages and uses of the invention will become apparent and be understood after reading the following description and claims, and viewing the drawings, in which: q f Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tabouret or pedestal type seat or stool embodying a preferred form of the invention; I

'Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 illustrates the appearance of the seat of Fig. 1, after the same has been collapsedor, as it would appear in form for shipping or carrying after being constructed from the blank of 4; and

Fig. 4 illustrates a cut and scoredblank ready to be folded and stapled or otherwise secured in the form shown in Fig. '3, from which further folding and manipulation may provide the article of Fig. 1.

The portable seat preferably is constructed from a fairly heavy fiberboard sheet and, whencut and scored in the blank state, has the appearance shown in Fig. 4, to which reference will be made first. The blank may be considered as divided the blank into folded or" a flap I6, a seat panel into twoportions, namely, a pedestal or base por tion'an'd a top or seat portion. The pedestal por-- tion comprises side panels '6, 8, l0 and [2, cornerpanels 1,8, l! and I3, and a securing strip or lap panel l4, having about one-half the width of panel 6, adapted to lap preferably inside of the side panel 6 to which it is to be secured in thefinished product. These several panels and the lapstrip -are defined by scoring the blank along parallel lines [5 running in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom edge B upon.

which the seat or tabouret is to he stood.

' The seat portion is divided into two substan-- tially equal, similar and complementary sections- S and S or kerf K. Each of sections S and S comprises IT, a reinforcing and hinge panel l8 and a pair of reinforcing flaps or tabsl9, the flaps, seat and hinge panels and the tabsbeing connectedto but diflerentiated from one another along score or fold lines 2|, 22. and 23,

as ,will beunderstood. Seatsection S connected with pedestal side panel 8 is integrally through its panel'8 is a horizontal score or fold line 24 adapted to serve as a hinge for this seat section. Similarly, seat section S is integrally joined with pedestal panel l2 along the score or fold line 24, the number,

dimensions and arrangement of the pedestal panels being such that the panels 8 and I2 will be disposed substantially opposite to one anotherwhen the pedestal is folded into tube shape as shown in Fig. 1; W l

Since thepedestal is octagonal in the illustrated embodiment, the panels 6 and ID will be substantially oppositely disposed and at right angles to panels 8 and [2 when the pedestal portion is expanded. Consequently, panels 6 and I0 will extend perpendicularto the outer free edges of the flaps l6 and, as the flaps I 6 and the panels 6 and ID are intended to be interlocked with one another, the top edge T of each of panels 6 and I0 is slotted as at. 25 to a depth preferably equal perpendicular distance between:

a score line 2| and theouter free edge of a flap- IG. Each slot .25 may be located midway of itsv panel edge and is of a width substantially equal. to tw1ce of the'thickness of the material of which;

be desirable to will become apparent as the. description proceeds. Each of the flaps i6, is. provided with a pair shape and dimensions separated from one another by a cut of slots 25 comparable in. to the slots '25, but the distance between the pair of slots 26 in each flap should be substantially equal to the distance between the inside faces of the panels 6 and when the pedestal is in its final tubular form.

In folding the blank into the shape in which it may leave the factory, it may be found preferable first to form the pedestal portion into tubular shape, as shown in Fig. 3 by folding along the score lines I5 indicated at L and L with the flap or securing strip l4 lapped on the inside of panel 6, and securing that portion in such shape as by staples 21 or by any other suitable fastening means. Thereafter the two seat. sections. S and S may be folded outwardly away from one another on hinge scores 2,4. and 2:47, respectively, then the two reinforcing tabs of each seat section may be folded over and against the bottom surfaces of the seat panels. ll along score lines 23, and thereafter each seat section is folded back toward the other along score lines 22. until the. panels. l'l', tabsl-9- and: hinge: panels [8. are parallel. to. and: substantially against. one another in. which. rel tive positionsand 00136.15 tion. they maybe secured. by staples 218 or other. suitable fastening means. The seat, or tabouret is: then ready tobe shipped. orstcred: and appears as. shown Fig. 3.

When the-stool, seat or tabouret istobe-set up. for use, it is only necessary to expand the pedestal portion to, octagonal tubular shape, bend or fold! the flaps I'B down on score lines: Zflf to. right.angu;-- lar positions with respect. topanels t1, and swing the panels'towardi one another and: down: against the top edges T of panelsB, 1,8, 9; In, H, l2tand 1.3- andsecuring strip M, thetwo, flaps I16 abut-.-- ting one another and with the bottoms: of their slots 26; abutting against the-bottoms of slots Thus the parts are securely: locked: together. against accidental displacement and any loading upon the top of the panels I] tend's tdhold them down and the flaps. lfiifirmly interlocked with'the panels 61 and II]; the interlocking offl'aps I 6 and panels. 6; and I ll .alsopreventing the-pedestal from collapsing from its tubular shape. The area of the seating portion is somewhat greater than the area; bounded by the walls (panels) of the-pedestal portion so. that the: major part of the loading isat all times and under all conditionstransferred to the'upper-edges-of the pedestalportions directly orthrough the flaps l6 andreceivedby; the pedestal panels in compression whichthe material; is well adapted towithstand. It. isaan easy matter to collapse the device Whenever desired; and the lightness and simplicity-of the structure. make it easy'to transport orstore.

A preferred embodiment hasbeen disclosed; for illustrative purposes only and should not bacon.- sidered as circumscribing the invention which.is susceptible of other embodiments as,well as modiffication and variation within the scope ofithe appended claims;

I claim:

1. A collapsible stool composed ofifibrous sheet. material and comprising a plurality. of substantially vertically extending supporting panels in, terconnectedby-integrally formed and'substantially vertically extending hinges, saidsupporting. panels being'disposable in tube-forming relation.-. ship and collapsibletherefromto flat form, two. of 'said supporting panels being substantially onpositely disposed when the. supporting panels. arev in tube-forming relationship,,a pair of complementary. seat-forming panels of which, one is. hinged-by one of a pair of opposite edges. to. an?

upper portion of one of said two oppositely disposed supporting panels and the other is similarly hinged to the other of said two supporting panels, the other of the said pair of opposite edges of one seat-forming panel being substantially in abutment against the corresponding edge of the other seat-forming panel, and means carried by the substantially abutting edges of said seat-forming panels for interlocking engagement with upper portions of certain of said supporting panels when the latter are in tube-forming relationship.

2. A collapsible stool composed of fibrous sheet material and comprising a plurality of substantially vertically extending supporting panels interconnected by integrally formed and substantially vertically extending hinges, said supporting panels being disposable in tube-forming relationship and collapsible therefrom to fiat form, two of said supporting panels being substantially oppositely disposed when the supporting panels are in tuberforming relationship, a pair of complementary seat-forming; panels of which on is hingedly connected by one of a. pair of opposite edges. to. an upper portion of one of said two oppositely disposed supporting panelsand the other issimilarly hinged. to. the other of said two supporting panels, the other of the said pair of oppositeedges of one seat-forming panel being sub-- stantially in abutment against the corresponding edgev of the: other seat-forming panel, and means carried by the substantially abutting edges of. said seat-forming panels for interlocking enrgagement with upper portions of said supporting panels when the latter are. in tube-forming.

relationship, the hinge connection between. each seat-forming panel and its connected supporting; panel including a reinforcing: panel attached by; one edge to the supporting panel and by a substantially opposite edge-todts seat-forming paneli a substantial distance outwardly of the outer side of its supporting panel.

3. A cut and. scored blank of. fibrous sheet material. for the. manufacture of a. device of ,the' character described comprising, a generally rectangular pedestal-formin portion: and. an integrally connected seat-forming portion, said: pedestal forming. portion including a plurality of panels defined by substantially parallel SCOIGilll'lES whereby the pedestal. portion may beffoldedi into tube shape,v the. number and widths ofthe pedestal panels. being. such. as toprovide one pain of: substantially oppositely disposed. panels when-the pedestal portion is in tube shape, saidseat-form-- ing portion. comprising a pair ofseat panels ,;one of, which has. integral connection. at one: edge: along a-score line at right angles-to saidpedestal: portionscore lines. with one end of one of said pair of substantially opposite pedestal panels,,the other of said pair of seat panels being similarly. connected. with. the corresponding end of. the other ofsaidpair. of. pedestal. panels,, each. of said integralconnections including an intermediate=reinforcingpaneh and-asecuringstrip attached to. another edge of each seat panel along a score; line substantially parallel. to. the hinge lineof such panel having. a. plurality of. slots therein} adapted 'toengagethe upper. portions of certain'of saidlpedestal. panels when. theJatter are in tube shape, said seat panels being complementaryto.

eluding a reinforcing panel hingedly joined by parallel score lines to each of said seat-forming panels and to its corresponding supporting panel, each of said reinforcing'panels being secured against the lower surface of its associated seat-forming panel.

5. A collapsible stool according to claim 1 including a reinforcing panel hingedly joined by parallel score lines to each of said seat-forming panels and to its corresponding supporting panel, and a pair of additional reinforcing panel hingedly joined to edge portions of each of said seatforming panels, each of said reinforcing panels being secured by staples or the like to the lower surface of its associated seat-forming panel.

FREDERICK PETER SACHS. 

